2019-09-07 Round 9 Yarra Boulevard

Doncaster Athletic Club Newsletter

September 8, 2019

XCR Round 9 saw 23 Doncaster athletes take on the challenge of Yarra Boulevard and 21.1km (Seniors/Masters) or 5km (Juniors).  As seen all XCR season, the men’s ½ marathon was a very competitive event with a total of 402 finishers.  DAC’s Dave Ridley was one to set the standard; finishing 3rd and less than 30 seconds behind the winner from Western Athletics (Ryan Geard – 1.04.59.48).  Matthew Johnsen (4th) was just a few metres behind helping to set the men’s Div 1 team up for a great round.  In the end, with fantastic support from 6 other men (Joshua Maisey, Benjamin Ashkettle, Alastair Christy, Boris Mathys, Nathan Down and Mike Rennie), the Div 1 team posted a 3rd and the Open Div 6 team 1st.  A terrific result!  Masters men also ran admirably, however, the 40+ division with some 42 teams has proven hard to crack all season – this round the DAC team finishing 39th, and the 50+ team finishing 18th.

The women’s ½ marathon was also a big challenge – Maxime Plugg was the fastest of the ladies (1.45.16.86), and Evelyn Kuys was placed first in the 60+ division, a position she has maintained all season.  There were a total of 140 finishers in the women’s event, and the DAC 50+ ladies team won the round to challenge the dominance of the Box Hill team so far this season.  Good on you ladies!

The juniors enjoyed a fast 5km; DAC’s Caleb Sinn (U20) ran an amazing 15.59.17 (6th) not far behind the winner who clocked 15.20 in a very competitive MU20 field.  Abbey Caldwell won the Women’s U20 event with a time of 17.05.29.  Abbey has won every individual XCR round this season and is fast establishing herself as one of Australia’s best junior distance athletes.  Congratulations to Abbey!  Congratulations also to the 4 other juniors completing the event; Caleb McLennan, Jessica Ng, Rachel White and Grace Wilson who have all come along in leaps and bounds this XCR season. 

A big thank you to those who assisted in organising the DAC team for this event.  Campbell McLennan arriving early to set up, and Darryl Kilmartin lugging the gazebo home (after just completing a ½ marathon!)  And thank you for the behind the scenes work of the team managers, parents and family members who contributed to a successful round.  This included supporting the personal achievement of athletes who find 21.1km quite a struggle! 

Results:

Men’s 21.1km (Open & Masters)

Open

Dave Ridley (1.05.20.30 – 3rd)

Open

Matthew Johnsen (1.05.28.05 – 4th)

Open

Joshua Maisey (1.09.35.44 – 28th)

Open

Benjamin Ashkettle (1.11.12.81 – 38th)

Open

Alastair Christy (1.12.01.70 – 43rd)

Open

Boris Mathys (1.23.32.47 – 183rd)

Open

Nathan Down (1.23.35.91 – 185th)

M45-49

Jason Merrett (1.38.41.60 – 32nd)

Open

Mike Rennie (1.39.42.52 – 344th)

M50-54

John Curry (1.54.18.94 – 45th)

M55-59

Jim Finch (1.58.12.87 – 24th)

M50-54

Darryl Kilmartin (2.04.16.57 – 48th)

Women’s 21.1km (Open & Masters)

Open

Maxime Plugg (1.45.16.86 – 99th)

W40-44

Kath Gawthorn (1.55.18.80 – 20th)

W55-59

Shirley Collier (2.10.38.02 – 5th)

W50-54

Annabel Young (2.13.19.74 – 12th)

W60+

Evelyn Kuys (2.15.56.35 -1st)

Juniors, 5km road race

Women’s U20

Abbey Caldwell – 17.05.29 (1st)

Women’s U20

Jessica Ng – 19.50.86 (9th)

Men U20

Caleb Sinn – 15.59.17 (6th)

Men’s U18

Caleb McLennan – 18.15.82 (14th)

Women’s U14

Rachel White – 20.28.00 (5th)

Women’s U14

Grace Wilson 22.29.87 – (12th)

Team Placings and Scores

Open Men Premier Division 1 – Doncaster 3rd, scoring 113 on placings and 8 points for season (St Stephen’s winning with placings adding to 96, and achieving 11 points)

Open Men Division 6 – Doncaster Team #2 winning, scoring 808 on placings and 15 points for season

Men Masters 40-49 – Doncaster 39th, scoring 269 on placings, and -26 points for season, (Geelong winning with placings adding to 15, and achieving 13 points)

Men Masters 50+ – Doncaster 18th, scoring 209 on placings, and -5 points for season, (Old Xaverian’s winning with placings adding to 33, and achieving 13 points)

Open Women Division 4 – Doncaster 3rd, scoring 295 on placings, and 18 points for season (Traralgon Harriers #2 winning with placings adding to 230, and achieving 21 points)

Masters Women 40-49 – Doncaster 7th, scoring 122 on placings, and 6 points for season (APS United winning with placings adding to 26, and achieving 13 points)

Masters Women 50+ – Doncaster 1st, scoring 51 on placings, and 13 points for season

Up and Coming Events:

Saturday September 21st – XCR Round 10 – Tan Relays

The final round of the XCR season will see us travel to the famous “Tan Track” for relays; each athlete (juniors and seniors) needing to run only 3.8km!  Quite do-able, so be sure to put your hand up for a team and join us!  Please contact your respective team manager to indicate interest by this Saturday 14 September for team managers to submit the entries to AV.  There is no cost for the relays.  If not yet registered, athletes may run in an ‘invitation’ team and the “more the merrier”.  Following the events, DAC will have an end of winter season social picnic in the parkland.  It has been a magnificent effort with 9 tough winter events and all athletes have put in a great effort. Contact team managers as follows:

  • Open men.          Ben Ashkettle                   0407 780 830
  • Open women.    Maxime Plugge                via Facebook messenger
  • 50+ men.             Darryl Kilmartin                0433 075 400
  • 40+m men.         Campbell McLennan       0414 533 677
  • U20 men.            Hugh Parrott                     via Facebook messenger
  • U18 men.            Zac Naunton                     0435 433 761
  • U16 boys.            Andy Parrott                     0401 673 245
  • 40+ women.       Evelyn Kuys                       via Facebook messenger
  • U20 women.      Camilla Niewoudt            0401 314 081
  • U18 girls.             Camilla Niewoudt            0401 314 081
  • U16 girls.             Campbell McLennan       0414 533 677
  • U14 girls.             Jodie White                       0435 168 432

Friday September 27th – Bill Chambers Handicap (6km) – Ruffey Lake Park

(Public Holiday – Grand Final Eve)

This event starts at 9am at Ruffey Lake Park (near The Boulevard playground – Western end) and a great chance to meet others at the club.  Handicapping is based on your recent best 5km time and all athletes complete 2x 3km laps – mostly on asphalt surface and with a couple of short hills.  The event is free; just turn up and start the long weekend off on a positive note.  Information:  https://www.facebook.com/events/358446721759628/?ti=as
There is a non-competitive 3km fun-run for juniors or anyone who prefers.

Sunday September 29th – DAC Working Bee – Tom Kelly Athletic Track

10.30-1.30pm on Sunday 29th will see us all gather at the track for some much-needed maintenance and cleaning to ensure that facilities and equipment are ready for the summer season.  Doncaster venue will host 4 rounds of the Shield season, and many athletes involved in field events, hurdles etc will come out of the woodwork to join us at training.  We need to make sure that the facility is safe and ready for everyone!  Please register your interest in helping out here https://www.facebook.com/events/867840606950278/

Saturday October 5th – Shield Round 1

You were thinking “A few more weeks of eating and drinking what I like, and then a couple of weeks to worry about what I’ve eaten, then I’ll think about the summer season” ?  ‘No sur-ree’; it is only 4 weeks until round 1, and this will come about very fast!  Make sure you complete your summer season registration, or individual event registration by Wednesday 2nd October (11.59am) via the AV portal.  At last check, venues for each round of Shield were still being finalised – check the AV website for full Shield schedule.   Look forward to seeing you!

Doncaster Athletic Club

Website: www.doncasterac.org.au

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